Winch mechanism with dual drive



March 14, 1967 w. MULLER ET AL 3,309,064

WINCH MECHANISM WITH DUAL DRIVE Filed Dec. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS LF MULLER N J \N N GENE W. KULESH w REGlNALD S. LANIER H ll 5o my M Li United States Patent Ofifice 3,399,064 Patented Mar. 14, 1967The present invention relates to a lightweight, remote controlled winchunit and more particularly to a new and improved winch unit whichemploys flat hoisting cable wound upon a replaceable tape reel assembly.

An increased reliance upon helicopters for military operations hascreated a need for a lightweight hoisting mechanism for raising andlowering cargo or other objects to and from the helicopter. Presentlyutilized hoisting mechanisms employ a standard drum type winch whereinthe round cable is laid on in single or double rows. Each of therevolving drum units has associated therewith a level-wind mechanism forproperly placing and spacing the cable on the drum. The level-windmechanisms are important for purposes of precluding backlash and othermalfunctioning which occur when the cable is inappropriately laid uponthe drum. Great difficulty has been found in developing a level-windmecha nism which is sufliciently and accurately synchronized with therotating drum, the ditficulty in synchronism occurring by reason of thevariation in drum diameter as the line or cable is paid in or paid out.As is readily seen, the mechanisms heretofore discussed are of largesize and weight and therefore incompatible with the helicopter structureand dynamics wherein pay load and space are of high importance. Inaddition, the heretofore discussed hoisting apparatus is extremelycomplex with the attendant high possibility of fouling when paying outthe cable from the winch and consists of a large number of partsoperating at a high rpm. rate with the concomitant result of shorteroperating life and high maintenance rate.

The general purpose of this invention is to provide a hoisting apparatuswhich embraces all of the advantages of similarly employed prior artdevices and possesses none of the aforedescribed disadvantages. Toattain this, the present invention contemplates a unique lightweight,remote controlled winch unit which uses flat cable wound upon areplaceable tape reel assembly which results in an extremely compactstructure. These advantages are obtained with the use of a minimum ofparts and a minimum of complex operating mechanisms.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight hoistingapparatus for use with helicopters in raising or lowering cargo or otherloads.

Another object is to provide a remote controlled winch unit consistingof few parts andoperating at a low revolution per minute rate to therebyassure longer operating life, trouble-free performance and a minimum ofmaintenance.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a small,lightweight winch unit compatible with helicopter operations, operableunder no-load conditions and free from the occurrence of backlash.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide alightweight helicopter rescue Winch mechanism which precludes fouling ofthe winch mechanism when paying out a belt or cable from the winch.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of alightweight winch mechanism wherein the hoisting cable or belt is easilyand quickly replaceable when so required.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention and the novel featuresthereof will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection withthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 illustrates one view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the hoisting 1 system.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4 for a general description of the hoistingmechanism of the present invention there is shown a winch unit generallynoted at 10 including a housing assembly 11, and a hydraulic motor 12associated therewith. Hydraulic motor 12, a commercial type known andused in the art, is a linear fluid displacement device particularlyutilized for high torque applications with the direction of rotationbeing reversible instantly without backlash. The hydraulic motor 12 andan associated motor shaft 13 are utilized to drive, through speedreductors schematically represented at 14, a spline shaft 15 which ismore clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The actuation and directional control of the hydraulic motor 12 isaccomplished through a standard commercial electric servo valve assemblygenerally indicated at 16 and located on the hydraulic motor 12. Thisservo valve assembly 16 is interconnected electrically to a remotecontrol unit 17 located in either or both the cockpit or cargo areas ofthe helicopter. The remote control unit 17 is powered by the aircrafts28 volt D.C. electric power supply source. In addition, the hydraulicmotor 12 is apppropriately interconnected through the servo valveassembly 16 to an appropriate supply of hydraulic power such as the 1200p.s.i. hydraulic power supply source 18 of the helicopter.

A brake housing 19 contains a band-type brake assembly 20 for the shaft13 which is normally in a spring loaded or braked condition until fluidpressure in the brake cylinder 21 reaches and exceeds a preset andpredetermined amount necessary to counteract the force of a spring 22contained therein for releasing brake band 23 from drum 23a. A solenoidvalve assembly 24 having electrical connection with the control unit 17connects the brake cylinder 21 to either the pressure line 18a or thereturn line 18b of the hydraulic supply 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the housing assembly 11 comprising a centerhousing 11a having the hydraulic motor 12 associated therewith.Contained within the center housing 11a and behind the plate 11b asviewed in FIG. 2 is the above-mentioned speed reduction gearingrepresented generally at 14. Spur gear 14a secured to the motor shaft 13drives the splined shaft 15 through the pinion gear 14b and spur gearsecured to the shaft 15.

Appropriate gears noted at 25 and 26 are interposed between spur gear14c and spur gear 27, the latter gear being affixed to driving shaft 28.Also secured to shaft 28 is a drive gear 29. An overrun orunidirectional clutch 36 of conventional design is associated with theshaft 28 and interposed between the spur gear 27 and the drive gear 29to operate the gear 29 in only one direction, that being in the payoutdirection discussed below. Drive gear 29 operatively engages spur gear31 which is rigidly secured to rotatable shaft 34 appropriatelyjournaled within housing 11a. A transverse driving pin 35 is rigidlysecured to the end of shaft 34 for driving a milk-off roller 60 to bediscussed below with reference to FIG. 3.

3 j Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a reel housinggenerally indicated at which when joined by fastener 41 to the centerhousing 11a forms an enclosure for reel assembly 45. Fastener 41 may beof any conventional nature which elfects a quick separation of the reelhousing 40 and the center housing 11a to enable removal of the reelassembly 45 from the enclosure.

Reel assembly '45 includes a pair of reelplates 46 and 47 interconnectedand spaced apart by compound hub elements 50 and 51 about which a flatcable is wound. This cable 55 is constructed of woven or braidedstainless steel wire and coated with polyurethane. The reel end of thecable 55 is wound about the inner hub 51 and is then passed through anaperture 52 formed in the outer hub 50. The outer hub 50 then serves asthe base about which the remaining cable is wound. The cable portionwound about the inner hub 51 is held in position by a springpressedretainer 53 interposed between the cable 55 and the inner hub 50. Theinterior portion of inner hub 51 I utilizes a milk-off roller rotatableabout ashaft 61 fixed to the reel housing 40. Roller, 60 is faced withrubber or other appropriate material at 6811 to insure suflicientfrictional engagement with the fiat, cable 55 when the rollerengages-the same. The transverse side face 60b of roller 60 is formedwith a plurality of outwardly extending finger portions 62 having slots63 formed therebetween for receiving the driving pin 35 which provides aunidirectional driving force to the milk-off roller 60. The direction ofrotation would be clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3.

Adjacent the milk-offroller 60 is a spring-loaded roller assemblygenerally noted at 65 for maintaining the flat cable in an abuttingcondition with the face 60a of the roller 60. Assembly 65 includes aroller 66rotatably secured to a pair of plates 67, only one of whichisshown, which in turn is pivotally secured through pin 68 to the reelhousing 40: Roller assembly 65 is spring urged to the position shown inFIG. 3 to insure positive engagement of the 'cable 55 with the milk-offroller 61. It should be noted that when a load is applied to the fiatcable 55, the lateral force of the cable arising from the tendencythereof to assume a straight line will urge the roller assembly 65against the spring and out of engagement with the roller 60.

In order topreclude, the cable from being destroyed by the "chafingaction of the cable against the side edges of the exit aperture 70 inthe reel housing 40, a pair of spaced siderollers 71 and 72 constructedof a thick, hard durometer rubber-like material are rotatably afiixed toblock 73 whichin turn is rigidly secured to the reel housing 40.Additionally, a pair of steel rollers 76 and 77 are rotatably journaledand housed within a collar member 80 which is welded or otherwisesecured to the reel housing 40. Whereas the resilient rollers 71 and 72engage the side edges of the fiat cable 55, rollers 76 and 77 engage andguide the broad sides of the cable 55.

The free end of the cable 55 is joined by an eye plate 81 to a rescuehook generally noted at 82, the hook being of any convenient andappropriate design. Also, the winch unit 10 'may be provided withbrackets such as shown at 83 for mounting the same on the helicopter.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a remote control unit 17 is showninterconnected through switch 85 to an appropriate DC. voltage supplyfrom the helicopter or other appropriate source. A potentiometer 86included within unit 17 provides the variable electrical power foroperating the servo motors 87which in turn mechanically control a servovalve 88 of the servo valve assembly 16. Valve 88 in turn controls thedirection and extent of fluid power supplied from the hydraulic supply18 to the hydraulic motor 12. The output shaft 13 from the hydraulicmotor 12 is further controlled by a braking system generally indicatedat 20 which isself-energized when the hydraulic system pressure drops apredetermined amount below normal operating pressure. Thebrake isnormallyspring loaded by spring 22 until the fluid pressure in the brakecylinder 21 reaches and exceeds a predetermined force and counteractsthe spring force .thereby'releasing the brake. A solenoid valve 99connects the brake cylinder 21 to either the. pressure line 18a orthe'return line 18b of the system. In case of hydraulic power failure,the pressure in the system drops, motor torque drops and the brakespring 22 actuates the brake. The solenoid 89 of assembly 24 iselectrically connected to the source of DC. power through the switch 85and is so arranged that in case of electrical power failure, the valveSSreturnsto null, the winch stops, the solenoid valve 90 turns OE andconnects the brake cylinder to the return line to bleed'the cylinder andthe brake is actuated.

In operation, when theoperator actuates the potentiometer 86, the servomotor-87 will actuate the valve 88 in a direction determined by thedirection in which the potentiometer 86 is moved. The hydraulic fiuidsupply 18 supplies the power to operate the, hydraulic motor 12 which inturn rotates shaft 13 and through the gearreduction mechanism 14operates the reel 45 and milk-off roller 60. The fluid supply is alsofed through valve 90 to the brake cylinder, 21' for disengaging thebrake when.

the fluid pressure is at the operating pressure. This pressure isapplied to the cylinder when the solenoid 89 is actuated by switch 85,the solenoid connecting the cylinder to the pressure line 18a.

When the potentiometer 86 is moved to the down position, the milk-01froller 60 and reelassembly 45 will rotate in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 3, withthe roller 60 being arranged through the gearassembly to rotate at a speed sufiicient-to provide a continuousfrictionalipulling force to the fiat cable irrespective of thepositionof the cable on the reel. By' reason of this arrangement,bunching or fouling of the cable within the reel housing 40 isprecluded.Under the condition wherein the milk-off roller 60 is attempting. topayout the cable at a greater speed than the reel speed would permit, aSlipping condition will be effectuated with no deleterious effect.

When the potentiometer 86 is roated to the up position the hydraulicmotor 12 causes the reel assembly 45 to rotate in acounterclockwisedirection as viewed in In this direction the clutch 30is disengaged FIG. 3. and the milk-off roller 60 is free running.

It will be understoodthat various changes in the details, materials,steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, maybe madeby those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of theinvention as expressed inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A winch mechanism comprising:

a first open-ended housing,

a second mutually abutting open-ended housing substantially identical tosaid first housing and forming an enclosed container when placed in theabutting position, said second housing having an exit aperture formedthereon,

fastening means associated with said housings for releasably joining thesame,

hydraulic motor means secured to said first housing and having a motorshaft extending within said first housing, 7

brake means secured to said first housing and operatively engaging saidmotor shaft,

a reel shaft rotatably securedto said first housing,

gear reduction means operatively engaging said motor shaft and said reelshaft,

a drive shaft journaled for rotation within said first housing andhaving driving means secured thereto,

gear train means operatively engaging said reel shaft and said driveshaft,

a reel unit for receiving a flat cable journaled for rotation withinsaid second housing, said reel unit including a drive socket foroperatively receiving said reel shaft,

roller means journaled for rotation within said second housing betweensaid reel unit and said exit aperture for abutting engagement with thecable as the same passes through said exit aperture, said roller havingmeans thereon for receiving said driving means,

and spring-biased means pivotally connected to said second housing forurging the cable into engagement with said roller means.

2. The winch mechanism of claim 1 wherein said gear train means includesa unidirectional clutch for rotating said drive shaft only in onedirection.

3. The winch mechanism of claim 1 wherein said roller means is facedwith rubber.

4. The winch mechanism of claim 1 wherein said driving means includes atransverse pin fixed to said drive shaft,

and said receiving means on said roller includes a series of outwardlyprojecting fingers having spaces therebetween for receiving said pin.

5. A winch mechanism comprising:

a base;

a bi-directional, variable speed hydraulic motor fixed to said base;

a first drive shaft axially extending from said base and operativelyconnected to said motor;

a second drive shaft axially extending from said base, spaced from saidfirst drive shaft, and operatively connected to said motor;

a cable hub connected to said base for relative rotation in cablepay-out and cable pay-in directions and formed to removably anddrivingly engage the extended end of said first drive shaft for rotationtherewith;

a flat cable with one end thereof fixed to said hub and spirally Woundabout said hub upon itself;

a pair of cable-aligning means connected to said base, each means havinga surface confronting the other and positioned normal to the axis ofsaid hub and spaced from the other a distance substantially equal to theWidth of said cable for receiving the spirally wound portion of saidcable therebetween;

first roller means spaced from the wound portion of said cable andconnected to said base for rotation relative thereto;

second roller means connected to said base for rotation and positionedrelative to said first roller means to urge a point along the paid outportion of said cable into frictional engagement with the periphery ofsaid first roller means;

connecting means operatively connected between said second drive shaftand said first roller means for driving said first rollermeans to ay outsaid cable when said cable hub is being rotated in the pay-outdirection;

servo-actuated valve means operatively connected to said hydraulic motorto control the direction and speed of rotation of said hydraulic motor;

a selectively positionable potentiometer operatively connected to saidservo-actuated valve means to actuate said valve means;

hydraulically-actuated braking means fixed to said base and arranged toprevent rotation of said hydraulic motor; and

solenoid-actuated valve means operatively connected to both saidhydraulically-actuated braking means and said potentiometer foractuating said bracking means to allow rotation of said motor when saidpotentiometer is in an actuating position.

6. A winch mechanism according to claim 5 wherein:

said cable is constructed of braided wire coated with polyurethane; and

the cable-engaging periphery of said first roller means is coated withrubber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 902,768 11/1908Shockley 254- 1,870,385 8/1932 Seaman et al. 254-168 X 1,937,607 12/1933Terrill.

2,246,923 6/1941 Meunier 254-168 2,559,450 7/1951 Mayer 254-168 X2,720,327 10/1955 Bain 254-168 X 2,862,673 12/1958 Smaltz 254,175.7 X2,872,130 2/ 1959 Nordone. 2,975,767 3/1961 Liggett et al 91-459 X3,033,171 5/1962 Englbrecht et al. 91459 3,227,420 1/1966 Scott 254175.7

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,084,882 4/1963Riley et al. 3,092,346 6/ 1963 Goodell et a1.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. A WINCH MECHANISM COMPRISING: A FIRST OPEN-ENDED HOUSING, A SECONDMUTUALLY ABUTTING OPEN-ENDED HOUSING SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO SAIDFIRST HOUSING AND FORMING AN ENCLOSED CONTAINER WHEN PLACED IN THEABUTTING POSITION, SAID SECOND HOUSING HAVING AN EXIT APERTURE FORMEDTHEREON, FASTENING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID HOUSINGS FOR RELEASABLYJOINING THE SAME, HYDRAULIC MOTOR MEANS SECURED TO SAID FIRST HOUSINGAND HAVING A MOTOR SHAFT EXTENDING WITHIN SAID FIRST HOUSING, BRAKEMEANS SECURED TO SAID FIRST HOUSING AND OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID MOTORSHAFT, A REEL SHAFT ROTATABLY SECURED TO SAID FIRST HOUSING, GEARREDUCTION MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID MOTOR SHAFT AND SAID REELSHAFT, A DRIVE SHAFT JOURNALED FOR ROTATION WITHIN SAID FIRST HOUSINGAND HAVING DRIVING MEANS SECURED THERETO,